Details have emerged about how funding for remote housing has been effectively flushed down the drain.

Federal Indigenous Advisory Council chairman Warren Mundine wrote in The Australian newspaper this week that one recent case included a plumber being flown from Darwin to a remote community to replace a washer.

NT Housing Minister Matt Conlan said unblocking a sink in the Barkly region has previously cost up to $900.

But he said controversial property maintenance contracts that have recently come into effect had dramatically cut the expense.

“The response time is a lot quicker too,” Mr Conlan said.

“In this real example from the Barkly region we also saw that after unblocking the kitchen sink the local handyman also unblocked the laundry sink, fixed two door handles, replaced a shower head and identified an issue with the stove ... for the grand total of $310.”

The maintenance contract tenders have been controversial – they were previously managed by councils who have had to lay off staff.

Rebel MP Alison Anderson wrote in an opinion piece in The Australian
– one of the few media outlets she will still speak to – that the new arrangements sparked the bush rebellion last month.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was the atrociously mishandled transfer of remote tenancy management and housing maintenance contracts,” she wrote.

“Local jobs were killed off. For a government that supposedly espoused job creation as well as local participation, this was a mortal sin.”

The Government insists the contracts create more local jobs – the regional councils employed 81 people and projections are that 129 people will be given work under the new arrangement. Mr Conlan said one of the big advantages would be having a local handyman on the ground in communities.

“These handymen can undertake basic non-trade qualified repairs and maintenance on the spot,” he said.

Mr Mundine said indigenous programs would be hit by federal Budget cuts but argued the cuts would provide an opportunity to reform indigenous affairs.

Comments on this story

Johnny Degaf of Darwin Posted at 8:41 AM April 28, 2014

To Maurice of Darwin you are right in your comment but the truth is The majority of the people in these community lack self help drive, are poorly educated and have no interest or know how to get into small business for themselves. Sit down money and government handout is easier. And as always it's someone else's or the governments fault.

Maurice of Darwin Posted at 10:16 PM April 24, 2014

Why don't the community members take some ownership of maintenance of these houses? Plenty of capable, intelligent and community minded people capable of doing this type of maintenance as well cleaning etc. I still struggle to understand why these communities can't do more to look after themselves with all of the money and effort that gets thrown at them year after year. I hope someone can solve the problem sooner or later.

Fed up! of Somewhere in the NT Posted at 8:55 PM April 24, 2014

This wrought has been going on in our indigenous communities for decades! This has been highlighted before and nothing was done as certain people that are part of these communities boards continue to get kick backs. Until there is an independent and impartial contractor nothing will change!